Episode 117 — Spotlight: Protection of Information at Rest (SC-28)
Protection of Information at Rest (SC-28) mandates that stored data remain confidential and tamper-evident wherever it resides—primary storage, backups, snapshots, removable media, or replicated copies. For the exam, recognize that SC-28 is broader than “turn on disk encryption.” It requires mapping data sensitivity to storage locations, selecting cryptographic protections that fit the medium and performance profile, and enforcing access paths that keep plaintext exposure to the smallest possible surface. Policies define which repositories must use encryption, how keys are segregated from data owners, and how administrative operations are performed without exposing content. SC-28 also intersects with supply chain and maintenance controls to ensure drives, virtual volumes, and hardware modules are sanitized, tracked, and retired with verifiable assurance.
In practice, organizations implement storage encryption through platform-native capabilities and HSM-backed key services, with per-volume or per-database keys that enable granular revocation and auditable access. Application designs minimize plaintext handling by encrypting selectively at the field or document layer for the most sensitive elements, reducing insider and crash-dump exposure. Evidence includes key separation diagrams, access control lists to management planes, encryption status reports, and destruction certificates for decommissioned media. Metrics quantify coverage of encryption at rest by asset class, key rotation adherence, and time to revoke keys for compromised stores. Pitfalls include relying solely on infrastructure encryption while leaving application-layer exports unprotected, sharing operator credentials to key consoles, or failing to encrypt cache and temporary directories that quietly hold sensitive payloads. Mastering SC-28 demonstrates a disciplined approach where stored information is resilient against theft, loss, or misuse, even when infrastructure is breached. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
